Deaerating feed-water heater



14, 1951 J. F. SEBALD DEAERATING FEEDWATER HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 30, 1948 FIG.

INVENTOR.

JOSEPH F. SEBALD 1951 J. F. SEBALD I 2,564,583

DEAERATING FEEDWATER HEATER Filed Sept. 30, 1948 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

JOSEPH F'. SEBALD INVENTOR.

3 second chamber 3 wherein the pressure is reduced, resulting in arelease of the non-condensible gases.

The steam enters the feedwater heater and degasifier through a steaminlet II into the enclosed conical space I6 formed between the baffies Iand I and thus the steam and water are introduced into the mixingapparatus I3 in substantially parallel extending relationship and in aseparated but thermal-heat-exchange relationship. The steam passes intothe mixing apparatus I3 through the annular space I8 which surrounds thewater inlet I2 and from the outlet of the annular space I8 enters themixing passage where it is thoroughly mixed with the water anddischarged into the second or degasifying chambeer 3. r

As clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the uppermost portion of thespace H formed between the perforated baiile I and the imperforatebaffle I0 opens, as shown at I9, into the uppermost portion of thesecond chamber 3 and thus the residual steam and releasednon-condensible gases flow from the chamber 3 into the annular space IIfrom whence some of the steam passes through the perforations 8 into thefirst chamber 2 while the major portion of the steam is directed to thecentral opening 9 in the perforated bafiie I. By directing the majorportion of the steam to the central opening 9 the steam will serve toscrub the water flowing through the perforations 8 into the space II.From the opening 9 the residual steam and released noncondensible gasesflow upwardly through the first chamber 2 towards the coldest part ofthe water being sprayed into the first chamber 2, that is, towards thespray valves 6 in a direction counter-current to the flow of the watersprayed into and through the first chamber 2. The spray valves 6 are solocated and their spray pattern is so baffled by means of the centrallydisposed annular baffle I9 and the upper baffle as to provide arestriction of the steam flowing toward the spray valves and to forcethe residual steam through the spray pattern of the incoming cold Water.The centrally disposed annular bafiie I9 encircles the cold water inletpipe 4 for a portion of its length, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of thedrawings, and it serves to assist in maintaining the desired water fiowpattern and to prevent steam from short-eircuiting across the chamber 2.The bafile I9 provides an enclosed downwardly opening space and it isprovided with a plurality of perforations 2| near its closed top topermit the escape of any non-condensible gases which might enter theconfined space within the baflie.

The upper substantially horizontal baffle 20 which is placed above thespray valves 6 so as to prevent upward fiow of the water is providedwith a plurality of perforations 22 to permit the passage of releasednon-condensible gases and any small quantity of residual steam which isnot condensed in the first chamber 2 to pass into the space in the topof the shell or housing I and from this space the releasednon-condensible gases and the non-condensed residual steam passesthrough openings 23 in the annular baflie 24 into the space 25. Thisprevents any pocketing of non-condensible gases in the space between thebafiie 20 and the top of the shell I. Released non-condensibles andremaining noncondensed vapor also pass through the sprays of water andinto and through the space 25 around the spray head 5. The space 25 isformed at the top of the shell I and is opened to atmosphere through anatmospheric vent 26 which permits the escape of the releasednon-condensible gases together with any residual steam which isnoncondensed in the first space 2, to atmosphere.

By the arrangement of the spray nozzles and the various baiiies toprovide the above described fiow paths of the incoming cold water andthe residual steam practically all of the residual steam will becondensed within the shell I of the heater and the use of ventcondensers as above referred to in connection with the various patentsitemized will be eliminated, thereby materially reducing the weight ofthe ieedwater heating and degasifying apparatus, as well as reducing itscost without sacrificing any of the advantages.

In the claims, as in the foregoing specification .the term residualsteam is used to designate the steam which is not'condensed by itsdirect heat exchange and degasifying contact with the water in thesecond or low pressure chamber 3 of the apparatus.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thespecific construction or arrangement of parts shown, but that they maybe widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a water heating and degasifying apparatus, a housing, a pair ofoperably connectedfirst stage and second stage treatment chambers insaid housing, means for introducing water to be heated and degasifiedinto said first stage chamber including a spray head and a plurality ofspray nozzles carried thereby, arranged to spray the incoming water intosaid first stage treatment chamber in downwardly diverging substantiallyconical fiow patterns composed of broken up diverging fine streams,second means for introducing steam into said second stage chamber, meansfor introducing water from said first stage chamber into said secondstage chamber including an inverted substantially frustrooonicai baflie,means operably associated with both of said second means and said waterintroducing means for directing water and steam being introduced intosaid second chamber into direct heat exchange and degasifyingrelationship with respect to each other, an inclined invertedfrustroconical baflle carried within said housing and extending acrossthe upper end of said second stage chamber in spaced relation to theinverted baflie of said water introducing means to provide a transversepassage for non-condensible gases and residual steam from said secondstage chamber into said first stage chamber, said inclined baffle havingan opening in its lowermost portion opening upwardly into said firststage chamber to direct steam into the first stage chamber incountercurrent direction to the sprayed water and a substantiallyfrustroconical baffle in said first stage chamber and locatedsubstantially centrally of the downwardly diverging conical flow patternof the incoming water.

2. A water heating and degasifying apparatus as claimed in claim 1wherein said shell has an accumulation space for non-condensible gasesand non-condensed vapor therein said space being located about and abovesaid spray head, and

a vent in said accumulation space to vent thev non-condensible gases andresidual steam to ats h r said spray nozzles 5, 3. A water heating-and'degasify'ing apparatus as claimedin claim 1 wherein said shell has anaccumulation space for non-condensible gases and non-condensed vaportherein said space being located about and above said spray head, a ventin said accumulation space to vent the noncondensible gases and residualsteam to atmosphere, an inclined baffle in said housing extending intosaid first stage chamber in spaced relation to said second waterintroducing means to provide a prolonged inlet passage for incomingresidual steam and non-condensible gases;

4. A water heating and degasifying apparatus as claimed in claim 1wherein said shell has an accumulation space for non-condensible gasesand non-condensed vapor therein said space being located about and abovesaid spray head, and a vent in said accumulation space to vent thenon-condensible gases and residual steam to atmosphere, a bafiie aboutthe inlet to said accumulation space to prevent by-passing of residualsteam and non-condensible gases to said accumulation space, said baffleprovided with perforations to prevent pocketing of non-condensibles inthe space between the baifie and shell.

5. In a water heating and degasifying apparatus, a housing, a pair ofoperably connected stage treatment chambers in said housing, means forintroducing water to be heated and degasified into the first of saidchambers, means for introducing steam into the second of said chambers,means for introducing water from said first chamber into said secondchamber, means for directing water and steam being introduced into saidsecond chamber into a direct heat exchange and degasifying relationshipwith respect to each other, said means for introducing water from saidfirst chamber into said second chamber comprising upper and lowerparallel baffles forming an annular space between them which is open atits perimeter to said second chamber to permit residual steam andreleased gases to pass from the second chamber into the first chamber,said baflies being provided with openings at their centers to allowWater to pass from the first chamber to the second chamber, saiduppermost of said parallel baiiies being provided with a plurality ofperforations to permit water and some residual steam to passtherethrough in countercurrent directions.

6. Water heating and degasifying apparatus as claimed in claim 5 whereinthe central opening in said upper bairie is relatively large to permitthe major portion of the steam to pass into the first chamber throughsaid large central opening and effect a scrubbing action on such matteras passes through said perforations.

7. In a water heating and degasifying apparatus, a housing, a pair ofoperably connected stage treatment chambers in said housing, a Pinralityof spray valves for spray water into the first of said chambers, meansfor introducing steam into the second of said chambers, means forintroducing water from said first chamber into said second chamber, bothof said means being arranged to maintain the water and steam in aseparated but thermal heat exchange relationship, means operablyassociated with said steam and water introducing means for directingwater and steam being introduced into said second chamber into a directheat exchange and degasifying relationship with respect to each other,means for delivering residual steam from said second chamber to saidfirst chamber, said water introducing means and said residual steamdelivering means so constructed and arranged that the residual steamentering the first chamber will flow towards the cold water in acountercurrent direction with respect to the flow path of the water insaid chamber, baffles in said first chamber, said spray valves and saidbafiles being arranged so as to provide a restriction to the fiow ofresidual steam flowing through said first chamber, said means forintroducing water from said first chamber into said second chambercomprising upper and lower parallel bafiies forming an annular spacebetween them which is open at its perimeter to said second chamber topermit residual steam and released gases to pass from the second chamberinto the first chamber, said upper bafiie being provided with aplurality of perforations to permit water and some steam to passtherethrough in countercurrent direction.

8. In a water heating and degasifying apparatus, a housing, a pair ofoperably connected stage treatment chambers in said housing, a pluralityof spray valves for spraying water into the first of said chambers,means for introducing steam into the second of said chambers, means forintroducing water from said first chamber into said second chamber, bothof said means being arranged to maintain the water and steam in aseparated but thermal heat exchange relationship, means operablyassociated with said; steam and water introducing means for direct-- ingwater and steam being introduced into said. second chamber into a directheat exchange and degasifying relationship with respect to each. other,means for delivering residual steam from said second chamber to saidfirst chamber, said: water introducing means and said residual steamdelivering means so constructed and arranged. that the residual steamentering the first cham-- ber will flow towards the cold water in acountercurrent direction with respect to the flow path of water in saidchamber, bafiles in said first chamber, said spray valves and saidbaflies being arranged so as to provide a restriction to the flow ofresidual steam flowing through said first chamber, said means forintroducing water from said first chamber into said second chambercomprising upper and lower parallel baflies forming an annular spacebetween them which is open at its perimeter to said second chamber topermit residual steam and released gases to pass from the second chamberinto the first chamber, said upper bafile provided with a relativelylarge opening at its center for the passage of residual steamtherethrough into the first chamber.

9. In a water heating and degasifying apparatus, a housing, a pair ofoperably connected first stage and second stage treatment chambers insaid housing, means for introducing water to be heated and degasifiedinto said first stage chamber including a spray head and a plurality ofspray valves carried thereby, said spray valves arranged to spray theincoming water into said first stage treatment chamber in downwardlydiverging substantiaily conical flow patterns composed of broken-updiverging fine streams, means for introducing steam into said secondstage chamber, means for introducing steam from said second stagechamber into said first stage chamber including a baffle having acentrally disposed opening for directing steam into the first stagechamber in countercurrent flow direction to the flow direction of theincoming sprayed water, and a centrally disposed annular baflie in saidfirst stage chamber substantially in line with said opening to provide arestriction for steam flowin towards said spray valves and to force themajor part of such steam through the sprays of water, a substantiallyhorizontal baflle in said housin above said spray valves to preventupward flow of incoming water, said substantially horizontal bafflehaving an annular extension baflle connected thereto and forming aconfined non-condensible collection space above said spray head, saidannular baflle provided with openings to permit passage ofnon-condensibles into said collection space, and said housing providedwith a vent opening into said collection space.

JOSEPH F. SEBALD.

.REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 695,320Matthews Mar. 11, 1902 899,063 Mueller Sept. 22, 1908 1,792,164 HollandFeb. 10, 1931 2,308,721 Sebald Jan. 19, 1943 2,344,554 McDermet Mar. 21,1944 Rohlin Mar. 28, 1944

